Since there is so much focus on standards-based testing in English, math, history and science, and those standards aren't really very focused on life skills, there is currently a sad lack of development of these skills in the schools. Hopefully the students are getting this type of education at home, but it's not happening in all homes. There is some discussion of the need for vocational education because not all students are university bound. But unless vocational and practical education becomes the focus of the governmental agencies who control the educational legislation, things won't change any time soon.